A breast-feeding support group soon will be formed in Russellville by the Cole County Health Department.
In addition, the department brings several public health education programs to the rural community, particularly through the schools and businesses.
To educate and prevent childhood obesity, the department helped form committees at several rural schools, including the Cole R-1 schools.
The first step will be to assess problems and what is being done well with regard to healthy options in the school environment.
Then the school-based committee will make an action plan.
The department will serve as a resource and guide to the process, but it is customized to the specific school's need because they develop their own plan.
Changes other schools have made include alternatives to sweet-treat fundraisers and pausing throughout the day for school-wide physical activity.